Considering that I have extensively written about emigration and the causes of emigration in my book “Croatian Seafarers in Overseas Countries,” I will now start with the story of their arrival in New Zealand, where the largest number of Dalmatians from the Makarska Coast and its hinterland settled. The gold rush, which triggered migrations to the USA in 1848, and an even larger one happening at the same time “Down Under” in Australia, belatedly reached New Zealand and the southern parts of South America due to geographic isolation. Although gold was discovered in the Land of the Long White Cloud in 1861, and we can already trace the presence of Dalmatian settlers at that time, the main wave of immigration occurred between 1892 and 1899.

At that time, the easiest work to find was at the resin deposits, and some earnings were needed before our people could turn to what was familiar to them: fishing, livestock farming, and agriculture. In Split, the newspaper “Pučki list” began publication in 1891, and shortly thereafter, it already had 300 subscribers in New Zealand. Alongside immigrant letters, the names of the authors and subscribers were also published, revealing where they came from. The most common question to the editor was: When will the wine clause be abolished? Newspapers at the time were the only form of communication, despite arriving months late. The number of subscribers is astonishing, considering that illiteracy was more common than the exception. The same was true for letters, which often carried bad news, as they couldn’t be written at home, and those at the destination couldn’t read them.

On the other hand, upon arriving at the other end of the world, where an unfamiliar language was spoken, where people looked different, where the climate was not like back home, and where living conditions were extremely harsh, there was a need for a spiritual caretaker from the homeland. His role would be to gather people, provide comfort, hold Mass in their native language, and read them letters and newspapers.

The first step in this regard was made with the establishment of the Croatian Catholic Mission in Auckland in 1904, when Don Josip Zanna (Innsbruck, 1878–1961), a young Tyrolean missionary who had studied Croatian for a year in Sinj, arrived there. However, this did not help much, as the Dalmatians in New Zealand spoke their own dialect. Zanna concluded that they did not speak the official Croatian language, but he found similarities with Italian.

That same year, a letter by Stipan Stipeljković from Auckland was published in the “Pučki list”, titled “Croatians in New Zealand Have No Priest”:

“It’s truly a wonder! They sent us a priest, for us Croats, to confess, preach, and give Holy Communion only to Croats. When the priest arrived, the first Sunday he went to say Mass. The people gathered for the service and to listen to the sermon. But what did they hear? Do they really think in Rome that all Croats speak Italian, or are they trying to make fun of us? We are not in the mood for jokes or mockery. We are hardworking people, looking to earn an honest living. As true Christians, we wanted to have a priest. Our companion, Špiro Talijančić, wrote a letter to the Holy See in Rome on behalf of all of us in 1897, asking not for a priest who speaks Italian, but for one who speaks Croatian, and this is what they did to us. Both we and the priest are struggling. He doesn’t understand us, and we don’t understand him. If Rome wants to please the Croatian people here, they must send us a Croatian priest immediately, one who knows Croatian customs and can heal the people spiritually and physically. We will write to the Holy See soon in this regard.”

After Don Josip Zanna, another Tyrolean, Father Andrew Zangerl (1883–1967), arrived in New Zealand in 1907, not for the Croats but for the Māori. However, he gladly welcomed Croats to his sermons during his 45 years of service. He particularly impressed Ivan Lunjević (Herekino, 1929 – Auckland, 2016), son of Dana and Matija Lunjević, immigrants from Podgora, who, after listening to his sermons, aspired to become a priest himself. He was ordained in 1956 and described Zangerl as calm, educated, and deeply religious, though he said he didn’t recall ever hearing him speak Croatian. Lunjević himself left a legacy as a priest, surviving cancer, working tirelessly, and passing away eight days before the 60th anniversary of his ordination.

In the meantime, our people from New Zealand supported the church back home. In “Pučki list”, a letter signed by the parish priest of Dragljane, Olujić, and the church caretaker Nikola Jović, was published, thanking Antun Majstrović and other patriots of Dragljane origin, parish of Zavojana, Vrgorac municipality, who raised 1096 crowns and 60 para for the church of St. Anthony in their hometown. The entire list of New Zealand donors from Dragljane, Zavojana-Stilje, Kljenak, Kokorići, Vrgorac, Poljica, Kozica, Zaostrog, Živogošće, Podgora, Makarska, Baška Voda, and other places on both sides of Biokovo was published.

 

In Auckland, due to the absence of a local priest, Croatians developed good relations with the local Catholic Church. In 1908, young Dalmatians installed statues depicting the scenes of Calvary above the altar in Auckland’s cathedral. It took twenty years for Bishop Henry William Cleary (1859–1929), who understood the needs of the Dalmatians, to fulfill their request. He wrote to Bishop Dr. Quirinus Clement Bonefačić (1870–1957) in Split, asking for a priest to be sent. The request was granted, and in 1928, Don Milan Pavlinović (Podgora, 1879 – Makarska, 1962), son of Mate and Ivka (née Devčić), arrived in Auckland. Pavlinović remained there until 1937.

During his service, Don Milan Pavlinović regularly wrote about the state of the Croatian community in New Zealand to the Split newspapers “Pučka prosvjeta” and “Novo doba.” He primarily served in Auckland, but for special occasions, he also traveled to Dargaville.

Such was the case on December 1, 1929, when Yugoslav consul Ivan Totić convened a large assembly of the Yugoslav colony at “Hibernian Hall.” First, Don Milan Pavlinović conducted a religious service, after which the consul informed those present that King Alexander had given our country the unified name Yugoslavia.

It was also an opportunity for the consul to suggest to the Dargaville audience that they form a church committee for the area, as well as a social and assistance committee. As Pavlinović reported, those elected were individuals proven in their love and sacrifice for faith and the Yugoslav idea in this distant world, with Consul Totić and Pastor Pavlinović leading the effort.

The following year, in 1930, Pavlinović wrote to “Novo doba”: “Mr. Editor! It’s been a long time since I’ve sent any news from these distant lands. This time I’m writing on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of our renowned poet Luka Botić. Last Tuesday, we received ‘Novo doba’, and upon reading it, I learned that you had fittingly celebrated this centenary. A spark of gratitude ignited in my heart, and I wished that this centenary would not pass in silence among our people, at least here in Auckland. On the first of the month, we held a party at the reading room, a so-called ‘Yuka party,’ and it seemed fitting to speak before the event, recalling Luka Botić as a great poet and patriot. Today, even after a hundred years, nature itself adorns his monument on Marjan, day and night, with flowers and greenery, while melodious birds sing his songs, the same songs with which he accompanied ‘Poor Mara’ to free Yugoslavia. I concluded my speech by merging the heart of Luka Botić with that of Mr. Rikard Katalinić-Jeretov, a living poet and patriot, and I read his poem dedicated to Luka Botić. At the end, everyone joined me in shouting three times, ‘Glory to Luka Botić!’”

Pavlinović continued: “On May 4, 1930, we also had an important event for us Yugoslavs in New Zealand: the opening and blessing of the first Yugoslav Catholic Church in Oratia, thirteen miles from Auckland. The church is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius. Bishop Dr. Liston blessed the church and donated an expensive white vestment, while the late Bishop Dr. Cleary bequeathed a beautiful golden chalice to our church in his will. The Glagolitic script is now familiar to all English Catholics, and they gladly attend my Masses.”

At the end of 1930, news was published in “Novo doba” highlighting the merits of Don Milan Pavlinović: “Through the efforts of the highly esteemed missionary pastor Don Milan Pavlinović, the former pastor of Podgora, a Yugoslav club has been established here for our people who have settled in this land. On holidays, our people from the city and surrounding areas gather in the club’s social hall to read newspapers and discuss events in the homeland, which they follow with great interest. A library has also been established in the same building, filled with educational and entertaining books, which we received from the homeland. We are grateful to the Yugoslav Association in Split, which gifted us books, as well as to the editorial board of ‘Pučka prosvjeta,’ from which we received several volumes as a gift.” The club’s address was also added: Yugoslav Club, 30 Wellington St., Auckland, New Zealand.

In 1931, Don Milan Pavlinović wrote to “Novo doba” that the situation in New Zealand was dire, with many unemployed. The prices of butter, wool, meat, and kauri gum had dropped, affecting both farmers and gum diggers, which led some Dalmatians to start returning to their homeland.

He wrote that on August 16, at the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Oratia, they celebrated the centenary of the transfer of the relics of St. Vincent, a feast celebrated in Podgora. He also noted that the Yugoslav Club was progressing well and that they were visited by violinist Zlatko Baloković, who gave three successful and well-attended concerts in Auckland. According to Pavlinović, Baloković greatly contributed to the reputation of our homeland, as he was proud of it and took pride in speaking the Croatian language.

In 1934, Don Milan Pavlinović visited his homeland. He first visited the ambassador in London, and later the government in Belgrade, to advocate for the interests of our emigrants. Due to his national and humanitarian work, he was appointed as the emigrant representative in New Zealand.

Don Milan Pavlinović next wrote to “Novo doba” from Auckland before Christmas 1934. For the first time, a “Christmas Tree” was organized at the Yugoslav Club, which, as Don Milan explained, was to bring joy to the children and spark their love for their native language and the homeland of their parents. On Christmas Eve, young men went caroling from house to house in Oratia, where they were warmly welcomed and generously gifted. At midnight, Don Milan celebrated a sung Mass in the Old Slavic language in Oratia, and in the morning, he held Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The festivities continued until the end of December, and on New Year’s Eve, a traditional excursion was organized to Pine Island, with 800 excursionists transported by steamboat, accompanied by the music of two tamburitza bands.

Don Milan Pavlinović continued to write to the press in his homeland, now also contributing to “Novi iseljenik” published in Zagreb, signing as the emigrant representative. In his writings, he noted that the economic situation in New Zealand had improved during 1937. There was enough work, and he praised the efforts of the Yugoslav Club and the Yugoslav Benevolent Society, as well as the youngest members of the community, whose academic success was commended by teachers and professors.

The last news that Don Milan Pavlinović sent from New Zealand was about a major celebration. He gratefully remembered the late Bishop Dr. Cleary, who had wished for the community to have a priest of their nationality and helped them achieve this. He also allowed the Mass to be conducted in Old Slavic and, most importantly, permitted the construction of a church in the Oratia area. At that time, over 300 of their children were attending Catholic schools. As a gesture of gratitude to the New Zealand Catholic Church, King Peter II awarded the Order of St. Sava, Second Class, to Bishop Dr. James Michael Liston (1881–1976). With Bishop Liston’s permission, one of their students pursued a priestly vocation and was already in his first year of seminary. This student was Jure Marinović (Auckland, 1915 – Auckland, 1993), born in New Zealand to Podgoran parents Lovre Marinović and Mare (née Rosandić), and he spoke the Croatian language fluently.

Don Milan Pavlinović began to fall ill, and the responsibilities of pastoral and educational duties, along with caring for the interests of about 7,500 Croats, became too demanding for him. Following his doctor’s advice, he left New Zealand and returned home. Upon his return, he visited the editorial office of Novi Doba in Split, where an interview was conducted with him in which he discussed the situation among Croatian emigrants in New Zealand.

Don Milan Pavlinović lived in Makarska but continued writing articles for Novi Iseljenik, providing updates from New Zealand. After his departure, a local English Catholic priest took over the pastoral duties.

In 1940, the newspaper Hrvatski Iseljenik published an article titled, “Our First Priest in New Zealand is Also a Croat from Dalmatia”:
According to our correspondent from Auckland, in December, Jure Marinović (Gjuro), the son of Croatian parents from Podgora near Makarska, was ordained as a priest in New Zealand. Born in New Zealand and raised in the Croatian spirit, with knowledge of the Croatian language, he is the first Croatian priest ordained in New Zealand.
This will greatly enhance the reputation of our community, and his priestly work will benefit our people, who had been left without their own priest.

Don Jure (George) Marinović led the majority of the missionary work and was the driving force (“spiritus movens”) for Croatian believers in Auckland during his priestly tenure, continuing until 1953. He became well-known when, as a theology student in 1938, he organized the wedding of four Croatian couples from Novi Vinodolski at the same time in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in front of 150 guests. The couples were: Andriana Kabalin and Ivan Dobrec, Marija Krišković and Ivan Sebalja, Tereza Sokolić and Milan Borićević, and Paulina Peričić and Josip Zanić.

Over time, generations born in New Zealand grew up, increasing the number of believers and the need for more priests. In 1952, Don Mate Kolić (Janjevo, 1920 – Šibenik, 2006), the son of Jure and Liza, whose roots were from Dubrovnik, arrived from Rome to join the mission. He celebrated his golden jubilee in New Zealand and returned to Croatia in 1997. He lived in Kistanje until his death, where he cared for the Janjevo community that had relocated there from Kosovo after the Croatian War of Independence. He passed away in Šibenik at the age of eighty-six.

Following him, in 1953, Dr. Sebastijan Palić (Janjevo, 1918 – Auckland, 1989), a doctor of canon law, also came from Rome to serve as a priest until 1989. Dr. Palić was remembered as a humble man, for whom the title “Doctor” meant less than being called “Father,” and he preferred to be called “Father Seby” by everyone.

After a year of adjustment in Auckland, Father Seby went to Kaitaia, where he spent two years. Until 1965, he served in various locations across the North Island. He also assisted Father Marinovich in Auckland. Starting in 1966, he served in Dargaville, where he felt most at home. Since there were many elderly people in the parish, Father Seby wanted to visit them at home, but he didn’t have a driver’s license, so he rode a moped. There’s a famous anecdote about how a police officer tried to stop him while he was riding. He waved to the officer, and Father Seby waved back. The officer eventually caught up to him and asked why he didn’t stop, to which he replied that he thought they were just waving at each other.

In 1970, Father Seby celebrated his silver jubilee, and money was collected for a return plane ticket to Croatia as a gift. On this occasion, he decided to visit his birthplace, Janjevo, where he reunited with his brothers, sisters, and father. He also visited the grave of his mother, who had died shortly after he was born. Upon his return to New Zealand, he was transferred to Auckland.

During his service, the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Croatians was commemorated. On December 15, 1979, a Mass was celebrated in Auckland Cathedral for the occasion, led by Bishop John Mackey, along with Croatian priests Monsignor George (Jure) Marinovich, Don Sebastijan Dr. Palić, Don Ivan Lunjevich, and Don Mihovil Shirres (Timaru, Dunedin, 1929 – Auckland, 1997), whose maternal great-grandfather Pavletić was from Bakar. On this occasion, a copper memorial plaque was placed with the inscription:

“PRAISE BE TO JESUS AND MARY”

IN ETERNAL MEMORY OF THE CROATIAN PIONEERS WHO, THROUGH THEIR DONATIONS, ERECTED THIS CALVARY SCENE IN 1907

The plaque was unveiled together by Bishop Mackay and Don Sebastijan Dr. Palić.

 

 

Auckland, 1979, celebration of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Croatians in New Zealand. From left: Don Ivan Lunjevich, Don Mihovil Shirres, Don Mate Kolić, Bishop John Mackey, Monsignor Jure Marinovich, and Sebastijan Dr. Palić (from the archive of Branka Bezić Filipović).

 

As time passed, Father Seby, approaching his seventies, began to experience health difficulties and could no longer cope with the demands of his work. However, in 1987, together with choir director Stjepan Matakovich, he prepared and published a Church hymn book. Around that time, Monsignor Jure Marinovich traveled to Croatia, and the Croatian community in Auckland asked him to speak with Cardinal Franjo Kuharić and Archbishop Dr. Frane Franić about the possibility of sending a new priest to Auckland. The request was taken seriously, and in 1988, Monsignor Ante Klarić (Split, 1926 – Split, 2011) from Split arrived in New Zealand. The following year, he witnessed a major event: the golden jubilee of Monsignor George Marinovich.

 

 

Golden priestly jubilee of Monsignor Jure Marinovich on Te Atatu Peninsula in Auckland, 1989. Pictured from left: Don Ivan Lunjevich, Don Stipe Gnječ from Geelong, Australia, celebrant Monsignor Jure Marinovich, Fra Toni Mutnik from Sydney, and two English priest friends (from the archive of Branka Bezić Filipović).

 

In 1990, the Croatian Catholic Mission in Auckland was renamed and dedicated to St. Leopold B. Mandić. Croatian believers felt the need for their own Croatian Catholic Center and received permission from Bishop Denis Browne to establish it next to St. Anne’s Chapel. The center was officially opened in 1991, when Croatia faced the Homeland War. Caritas was also established, and religious education was taught in both English and Croatian.

Monsignor Klarić also witnessed the 95th anniversary of the Croatian Catholic Mission in Auckland in 1999. On this occasion, a bilingual Mass was celebrated, led by Vicar General Monsignor Brian Arahill, along with Robert James Sharplin (Tauranga, 1961), a young priest of Croatian descent on his mother’s side (Šutić from Gradac), Fra Gracijan Biršić, a missionary in Sydney, Capuchin Matthias Murphey, parish priest in Henderson, and the Croatian chaplain, Monsignor Ante Klarić. Vicar General Arahill praised the Croatian community of Auckland for preserving their Catholic faith with equal love for both their homeland and their new country, New Zealand. He also expressed gratitude for the Calvary statues that have adorned the cathedral for over 90 years, while Fra Gracijan, in his sermon, commended the New Zealand-born Croatians for preserving the Croatian language.

During his time in New Zealand, Monsignor Klarić met with New Zealand priests of Croatian descent. These included:

  • James Joseph Beban (Greymouth, Christchurch, 1920 – Silverstream, Wellington, 1999), son of Stjepan Beban from Zlarin and Margaret Anne Slattery. Due to his height, he was nicknamed “Big Beb,” but he was remembered as large in stature, ideas, and heart.
  • Eric Urlic (Wellington, 1927 – Wellington, 2017), son of Josip Urlić from Drašnice and Ellen Jane Croton.
  • Bernard Francis Vella (Wellington, 1933 – Wellington, 1995), son of Ivan and Mary McLeod, who worked as a mathematics teacher for eighteen years before becoming an assistant priest. He was known for his saying: “Think before you speak!”
  • Mark Beban (Greymouth, 1940 – Wellington, 2005), son of John Beban, originally from Zlarin, and Maureen Rohloff. He was a well-known cricket player, and his ordination came as a surprise to many.
  • Gregory Paul Sweet (Blenheim, 1954) is the grandson of Ivan Cvitanović from Drašnice.

Monsignor Ante Klarić, at the end of his mission, published a book on the history of the Croatian Catholic Mission in Auckland and returned to Split in 2006 as an eighty-year-old. After his departure, a priest from the Auckland Diocese, originally from Poland, readily responded to the desire of Croatian Catholics to have Mass in Croatian.

It is also worth mentioning the nuns born in New Zealand who contributed to the Catholic community on the island. They were:

  • Andrea Jurisich, daughter of Nikola Juršić from Korčula, who served in Papua New Guinea until 1997 before returning to Auckland.
  • Benedict Iva Tolich (Dargaville, 1927), daughter of Ivan Tolić from Radovići near Drašnice.
  • Barbara Tolich (Dargaville, 1936 – Mission Bay, 2017), another ordained daughter of Ivan Tolić.
  • Mary Stephen Vella (Auckland, 1927 – Auckland, 1964), daughter of Šime Vela from Podgora, who died young from leukemia.
  • Ruth Vella (Auckland, 1929), sister of Mary S. Vella, who is active in Wellington.
  • Marie June Nola (Auckland, 1928), daughter of Mate Nola from Podgora.
  • Kathleen (Kate) Franich (Whangarei, 1935), whose father was from Vrgorac.

The Croatian Catholic Mission has been visited over the years by high church dignitaries such as Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, Vinko Puljić, Bishop Josip Arnerić, Archbishop Marino Barišić, Josip Bozanić, and Pope John Paul II himself.

 

 

Cardinal Franjo Kuharić’s visit to Auckland in 1980. From the left are Michael Pervan, iconographer, Don Mihovil Shirres, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, Monsignor Jure Marinović, Vladimir Stanković, General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, and others (archive of Branka Bezić Filipović).

 

Over its 120 years of operation, the Croatian Catholic Mission in Auckland has performed an important task of gathering the Croatian community, encouraging the establishment of Croatian societies and Caritas. The missionaries have been a great support to individuals and their families, whether it was regarding daily problems, baptisms, weddings, and funerals, or fostering Croatian customs and culture. They were also a crucial factor in preserving the Croatian language, which inevitably diminishes in the diaspora.

 

Written by: Branka Bezić Filipović